7 Ways to Make a Truly Compelling Annual Report

We’ve talked at length about why annual reports are such an important piece of content for brands. They don’t just satisfy a legal requirement; they are a bold statement about who you are, what you do, and how you are succeeding. And when well-executed, they can elevate your brand in ways you might not imagine.

Take Warby Parker. When the eyewear company debuted their 2012 annual report, an entertaining interactive infographic, they were almost overwhelmed by the results.

“We thought some people would find it interesting, but it was retweeted 2,000 times and led to our three highest consecutive day of sales—even more so than when we were in CBS Sunday Morning or The New York Times,” Warby Parker Cofounder Neil Blumenthal told Fast Company.

(The company has since taken the report offline, but you can check out our review of their 2013 annual report to see how great their reports are.)

For some brands, crafting an annual report feels intimidating or taxing. But we know that no matter how dull your industry or dry your data, you can create an annual report that is interesting, engaging, and authentic.

To help you do that, we’re sharing some of our own tips to help you create a compelling report from cover to cover.

1) Streamline your story

It’s a shame when brands just compile their numbers, add a letter from the president, and call it a day. There is a lot of valuable content to be shared in an annual report, but if it isn’t presented appropriately, much of it goes to waste. As a cornerstone piece of content, your annual report should effectively communicate your brand story. To do this, construct a core narrative. This may be a particular theme, an initiative, or an extension of your mission. Regardless, use every element of your annual report to anchor that story, from the cover design to the copy.

Example: We collaborated with Goodwill of Orange County to create an annual report that told the story of “The Good Effect,” how the organization and its contributors helped the community over the year.

2) Demonstrate Impact

An annual report is an opportunity to highlight your accomplishments to build trust in your organization and show your stakeholders your success.

But to really make an impression, to help your audience emotionally invest in your brand, you need to highlight the impact of these accomplishments. How does your work affect individuals, businesses, communities, or even the world?

As you frame these successes, you might include data, as well as testimonials, quotes, individual stories, or other information that shows the real impact of your efforts.

Remember: Translate information into impact.

Example: We helped create the 2014 Robin Hood Annual Report, an interactive report that includes video and stories. The video below follows the story of the Robin Hood Veterans Initiative, allowing the people who worked on the initiative—and the direct recipients—to talk about the impact.

3) Humanize your work

Your audience appreciates transparency. This applies to your financials, of course, but it also means they want to know who you are and who (not just what) you’re helping. Strong brand relationships are built through human-to-human connection, so removing the curtain is crucial.

Think about how to make your brand voice come through in your content. And in addition to human stories, include photos, whether it’s your CEO, employees, or the people most affected by your work.

4) Visualize your numbers

We’re huge proponents of data visualization because it is both aesthetically pleasing and an effective form of visual communication. Our brains are pre-wired for visual communication, so visualizing data makes the information presented easier to comprehend and recall.

Data is particularly useful to enhance your messaging; it also creates visual variety. Note: If there is particularly pertinent information that supports your story, include callouts or additional context to ensure your reader understands the significance of the data.

As you look for opportunities to visualize, make sure you follow best practices. (See our data visualization 101 series for more info on how to design common charts and graphs.)

5) Use a Visual Language

The visuals you include tell your story as much as the words on the page. Your choice of illustrations, photos, colors, and fonts make your visual languagean extension of your brand identity.

As you move forward with design, you may want to choose an overarching visual theme or metaphor that relates to your story. It may also be influenced by the format you choose.

This is an opportunity to get as creative as you like. However, if you have an established brand visual language, it should be consistent with the other pieces you create.

Example: We designed the Pacific Life 2015 Annual Report around an aquatic theme. It helped present the brand as a living, breathing, energetic entity to remind the audience that Pacific Life is more than a life insurance company.

6) Introduce Interactivity

Annual reports have evolved in recent years. Whereas a print piece was the standard 25 years ago, they can now take many forms: print, digital, interactive—even video. (And we’ll surely see a VR version someday.) Depending on the story you’re trying to tell, consider which format will help you deliver it most effectively.

No matter what you choose, look for opportunities to engage readers. Interactivity is a great way to do this. The more time they get to spend “in” and with your content, the more invested they are.

You might consider an interactive infographic that lets them jump in and play around with the content. (This is particularly useful for data sets.) You can even create interactivity with a print piece. The Sonae 2012 Annual Report by Ivity Brand Corp. featured gears to turn and acetate overlays to bring the content to life.

7) Surprise Your Readers

If you challenge yourself, you can really break the mold with your annual report. This extra layer upgrades your readers’ experience, making your annual report truly memorable. There are many ways to surprise or excite readers.

Share a delightful photo, story, or tidbit:Warby Parker’s 2013 annual report mentioned the time their team ordered so many sides of bacon from Seamless that the service was sure there’d been a mistake.

Include a fun little freebie:Flywheel’s 2015 Year in Review showcased the CEO getting a tattoo of the company’s logo. In honor of the event, they made custom temporary tattoos to send to anyone who requested them.